Short answer: the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2. It ranks #65 of 113 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 3.1/5, at $90; the Pioneer PBM5 ranks #112, rated 2.0/5, and costs $149, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 is the better-sounding, longer-running option. An affordable waterproof party speaker with a big woofer, lights, a karaoke mic input and FM radio. It is rated for 20 hours of battery against 13 for the Pioneer PBM5. At 11 lbs (5 kg) it weighs noticeably less than the Pioneer PBM5 at 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg). It is rated IPX7 against IPX5 for the Pioneer PBM5. Watch for: Lacking detail compared to the Onn Large Party gen 2 and not as deep of bass.
What the Pioneer PBM5 does well: A loud karaoke boombox with two mic inputs, a guitar input, lights, a shoulder strap and a choice of USB-C or AC power. It has an adjustable EQ, which the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 lacks. The tradeoff: Williston Audio Labs was not impressed with its sound: there is very little bass below 100Hz, and the amplifier’s output has a big dip from 1.6kHz to 10kHz that leaves the upper mids and treble recessed.
Buy the Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Pioneer PBM5 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2 | Pioneer PBM5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $90 | $149.00 |
| Ranked | #65 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #112 of 113 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 13 hours at 60% volume (Manufacturer specified) |
| FM Tuner | Yes (16 presets) | - |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | Yes (2 inputs) |
| Party Mode | Yes (Party Sync Mode) | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2.1A) | - |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C or AC Power cord |
| Stereo | No | - |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | - |
| App | No | Yes |
| EQ | No | Yes (presets + user EQ) |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | No | Yes (MP3 only) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| Amplifier Power | 50W RMS / 200W peak | 300W peak (Manufacturer specified), about 90W measured |
| Dimensions | 9.6” x 10.9” x 15.1” (244.1 x 277.9 x 383 mm) | 8.9”H x 17.4”W x 8.1”D (226 x 442 x 207 mm) |
| Weight | 11 lbs (5 kg) | 14.1 lbs (6.4 kg) |
| Drivers | 8” (203mm) woofer + tweeters | 2x 133mm (5.25”) woofers + 2x 51mm (2”) tweeters |
| Digital Aux Input | No | - |
| Lights | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Guitar Input | - | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | - | 105dB at 2m (measured by Williston Audio Labs) |
| Strap | - | Yes (detachable shoulder strap) |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Onn Medium Party Speaker Gen 2: reviews by Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More.
- Pioneer PBM5: reviews by Williston Audio Labs and AnotherReview ByFrank.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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